What Are the Different Types of

Governments?
After ousting former president Hosni Mubarak, Egypt is in the market for
a new form of government . Here's a rundown of the various forms of
government, with definitions provided by "The World Factbook."

Absolute monarchy - a form of government where the monarch rules

unhindered, i.e., without any laws, constitution or legally organized
opposition.
Anarchy - a condition of lawlessness or political disorder brought about by
the absence of governmental authority.
Authoritarian - a form of government in which state authority is imposed
onto many aspects of citizens' lives.
Commonwealth - a nation, state or other political entity founded on law and
united by a compact of the people for the common good.
Communist - a system of government in which the state plans and controls
the economy and a single -- often authoritarian -- party holds power; state
controls are imposed with the elimination of private ownership of property or
capital while claiming to make progress toward a higher social order in which
all goods are equally shared by the people (i.e., a classless society).
Confederacy (Confederation) - a union by compact or treaty between
states, provinces or territories that creates a central government with limited
powers; the constituent entities retain supreme authority over all matters
except those delegated to the central government.
Constitutional - a government by or operating under an authoritative
document (constitution) that sets forth the system of fundamental laws and
principles that determines the nature, functions and limits of that
government.
Constitutional democracy - a form of government in which the sovereign
power of the people is spelled out in a governing constitution.
Constitutional monarchy - a system of government in which a monarch is
guided by a constitution whereby his/her rights, duties, and responsibilities
are spelled out in written law or by custom.
Democracy - a form of government in which the supreme power is retained
by the people, but which is usually exercised indirectly through a system of
representation and delegated authority periodically renewed.
Democratic republic - a state in which the supreme power rests in the
body of citizens entitled to vote for officers and representatives responsible
to them.
Dictatorship - a form of government in which a ruler or small clique wield
absolute power (not restricted by a constitution or laws).
Ecclesiastical - a government administrated by a church.
Emirate - similar to a monarchy or sultanate, a government in which the
supreme power is in the hands of an emir (the ruler of a Muslim state); the
emir may be an absolute overlord or a sovereign with constitutionally limited
authority.
Federal (Federation) - a form of government in which sovereign power is
formally divided -- usually by means of a constitution -- between a central
authority and a number of constituent regions (states, colonies or provinces)
so that each region retains some management of its internal affairs; differs
from a confederacy in that the central government exerts influence directly
upon both individuals as well as upon the regional units.
Federal republic - a state in which the powers of the central government
are restricted and in which the component parts (states, colonies, or
provinces) retain a degree of self-government; ultimate sovereign power
rests with the voters who chose their governmental representatives.
Islamic republic - a particular form of government adopted by some Muslim
states; although such a state is, in theory, a theocracy, it remains a republic,
but its laws are required to be compatible with the laws of Islam.
Maoism - the theory and practice of Marxism-Leninism developed in China
by Mao Zedong (Mao Tse-tung), which states that a continuous revolution is
necessary if the leaders of a communist state are to keep in touch with the
people.
Marxism - the political, economic and social principles espoused by 19th
century economist Karl Marx; he viewed the struggle of workers as a
progression of historical forces that would proceed from a class struggle of
the proletariat (workers) exploited by capitalists (business owners), to a
socialist "dictatorship of the proletariat," to, finally, a classless society --
Communism.
Marxism-Leninism - an expanded form of communism developed by
Vladimir Lenin from doctrines of Karl Marx; Lenin saw imperialism as the final
stage of capitalism and shifted the focus of workers' struggle from developed
to underdeveloped countries.
Monarchy - a government in which the supreme power is lodged in the
hands of a monarch who reigns over a state or territory, usually for life and
by hereditary right; the monarch may be either a sole absolute ruler or a
sovereign - such as a king, queen or prince - with constitutionally limited
authority.
Oligarchy - a government in which control is exercised by a small group of
individuals whose authority generally is based on wealth or power.
Parliamentary democracy - a political system in which the legislature
(parliament) selects the government - a prime minister, premier or
chancellor along with the cabinet ministers - according to party strength as
expressed in elections; by this system, the government acquires a dual
responsibility: to the people as well as to the parliament.
Parliamentary government (Cabinet-Parliamentary government) - a
government in which members of an executive branch (the cabinet and its
leader - a prime minister, premier or chancellor) are nominated to their
positions by a legislature or parliament, and are directly responsible to it; this
type of government can be dissolved at will by the parliament (legislature)
by means of a no-confidence vote or the leader of the cabinet may dissolve
the parliament if it can no longer function.
Parliamentary monarchy - a state headed by a monarch who is not
actively involved in policy formation or implementation (i.e., the exercise of
sovereign powers by a monarch in a ceremonial capacity); true governmental
leadership is carried out by a cabinet and its head - a prime minister, premier
or chancellor - who are drawn from a legislature (parliament).
Presidential - a system of government where the executive branch exists
separately from a legislature (to which it is generally not accountable).
Republic - a representative democracy in which the people's elected
deputies (representatives), not the people themselves, vote on legislation.
Socialism - a government in which the means of planning, producing and
distributing goods is controlled by a central government that theoretically
seeks a more just and equitable distribution of property and labor; in
actuality, most socialist governments have ended up being no more than
dictatorships over workers by a ruling elite.
Sultanate - similar to a monarchy, a government in which the supreme
power is in the hands of a sultan (the head of a Muslim state); the sultan
may be an absolute ruler or a sovereign with constitutionally limited
authority.
Theocracy - a form of government in which a Deity is recognized as the
supreme civil ruler, the Deity's laws are interpreted by ecclesiastical
authorities (bishops, mullahs, etc.); a government subject to religious
authority.
Totalitarian - a government that seeks to subordinate the individual to the
state by controlling not only all political and economic matters, but also the
attitudes, values and beliefs of its population.